Long anticipated, and just in time for the State of Alabama’s Bicentennial, Burritt on the Mountain is proud to announce the grand opening of the Dorothy Davidson Rosenwald Schoolhouse on Thursday August 24th, 2017. From 5:30-7:30pm, we invite you to enjoy a tour of the new building, a view of our special Rosenwald School exhibit curated by Stephanie Timberlake, and a preview into the educational experience students will participate in at the schoolhouse.

Beginning this Fall, we will start welcoming 4th grade classes to experience an early 1900s school day from the morning pledge of allegiance to class dismissal after a day spent studying reading, writing and arithmetic. “We are thrilled to be preserving this little-known part of Alabama History and offering students an educational experience they will remember all their lives,” Burritt CEO, Leslie Ecklund remarks. “This has been part of the Burritt dream for many years. Being able to add much needed space for our Burritt Folk School and our educational staff is also exciting and greatly needed in order to expand our mission of enhancing lives and building community through Education, Arts and Preservation.”

Begun in 1912, Rosenwald schools were built through a partnership between Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish philanthropist and president of Sears, Roebuck & Co., and black educator Booker T. Washington, along with support from the local black and white communities. Between 1913 and 1932, nearly 5,000 new schools were built in 15 states and thousands of students received an education, learned trades and skills, and were awarded better opportunities as a result of this education. We are thrilled to continue this tradition of providing vital educational experiences and preserving the rich history of these schoolhouses.

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend the grand opening event on August 24th so we can accommodate your arrival. The building will officially be open for public viewing on September 16th, where teachers will receive free admission to the park in celebration of the opening.